The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-08-31
POPULAR SCIENCE.

Two French electricians obtained an
electric current from metallic foil when
uncqually heated in magnetic field.
At Rome and some other places in
! Italy, the curious observation has been
made that thermometer in the shade
sometimes indicates higher temperature
than thermometer in the sun, particu-
larly when strong wind strikes the
latter instrument. ...r
At a recent meeting of the London
Anthropological Institute, DR.. George
Harley sought to prove that the con-
ditions which have increased mans COM
fort and stimulated his mental faculties
have lessened his vitality and recupera-
tive powers, making him more liable to
fatal injuries. <e
Mr.. George NJ. Pullman, of the Pull;
man Car Company, proposes to introduce
here the system now in vogue on one or
two of the English railroad lines of stor-
ing electricity for the lighting of the
cars from the friction of the car wheels.
He has brought an expert over, who will
soon set to work on series OF expert
ments at the shops at Pullman, III.
Although paper-g glass windows may
seem to be contradiction in terms, says
an exchange, they are really an accom-
plished fact. A window pane is made Of
white paper, manufactured from cotton
orlinen, and modified by chemical action.
Aftcrward the paper is dipped in q
preparation of camphor and alcohol,
which makes it like parchment. From
this point it can be nodded and cut into,
remarkably tough sheets entirely trans
parent, and it can be dyed with almost
/ the whole of aniline colors, the result
. being a transparent sheet, showing far,
more vivid hues than the best glass ex-
i hibits. e.
! Raft timber that has been Goa ed down
rivers has been ascertained to he no long
er liable to the attack of dry rot. So
much so is this said to be the case that in
Alsace it is customary to specify that
only raft timber shall be employed. The
water slowly dissolves out the albumen
and salts, and thus deprives the fungus
of the nutriment needful for its develop
ment. A French investigator, we are
told, has found by experiment that,
whereas fresh sawdust when buried rots
away in few years, sawdust from wood
that has been soaked some time in water,
and has thereby been deprived of soluble
matters, will remain in the ground under
similar circumstances wholly unchanged
and only slightly tinged on the exterior
with earthly matters dissolved from The
soil. .s-,,,,
Experiments as to the ratio of increase
OF the wood growth of trees at different
periods during the growing season are
few in the scientific records. Observa-
tions were once made on one of our cot
ton woods, and showed that the girth
increased more rapidly during the end OF
June than at any other time in the year.
Indeed, most of the new addition was
made about that time. DR.. David
| Christison has now contributed paper to
the Edinburgh Botanical Society, giving
similar observations on number OF
trees, and with like result. The beech
was found to make seven per cent of its
annual increase of girth in May, 25 in
June, and 81 in July; the Spanish chest
nut, 12, 70, Sc; the tulip tree, 5, 5, "a,
and the remaining 90 in August and Sep
tember. In relation to evcrgreens, the
observations seemed to note that there
was more regular increase through each
month. A sequoia showed for 3, May,
a: June, 80; July, %; August, H. 1t
is quite likely the periods of increase
would vary in our country.